Science Across the World in the Yilan province in Taiwan

Hong-Da Wu and Shu-Hua Chen attended the first Young Ambassadors for Chemistry (YAC) course + event at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei organised by our Taiwanese coordinator Prof Mei-Hung Chíu in November 2004 (

Back in school in Yilan

Back in school Hong-Da and Shu-Hua realised they had to tackle the language problem. Students in their school learn English, but it is difficult for the students to read, write and communicate in English. Moreover the Science teachers themselves don't feel very confident either. They suggest to have more translated (in Chinese) topics available. But the problem with the students having difficulties to use English for communication has to be solved.

A new in-service training course

In March 2006 Prof Chíu organised a one day course for 'old' and new YAC and Science Across the World teachers. Hong-Da and April 07
Shu-Hua attended this meeting and tried to find a solution for their Science Across the World problems. Shu-Nu Chang from Aletheia University, one of the first Science Across the World users in Taiwan (report), helped a lot with her experiences.

Poster competition 'Chemistry for Humanity'

Part of the YAC programme was the organisation of a poster competition 'Chemistry for Humanity' for students 10-16.
Hong-Da and Shu-Hua's students sent fourteen posters from thirteen students. Annie Chen, one of the runners up, received her certificate from Taiwanese Nobel laureate Prof Yuan Lee.

YAC course + event in Yilan

In August 2006 the Ministry of Education facilitated a new two-day meeting in the Yilan province with Hong-Da and Shu-Hua as wonderful hosts with full support of their management. Around ten new teachers learned about YAC and SAW and were trained to use the Science Across the World topic  'Chemistry in our lives' for the YAC event. The next day around 30 students with their teachers were invited to take part to run the event in front of a very nice Department Store. The weather wasn't very friendly for us, but he manager of the store had a tent built on the spot. This really made the difference! Many enthusiastic students and teachers showing how wonderful chemistry can be.

Our roving student reporters interviewed the public and they were interviewed by the press. An article was published in the Liberty Times!

Translation of the article Students Learned a Lot by Producing Daily Supplies with Chemical Materials Under the teachers’ instruction, about thirty junior high school students produced the hair gel, the shampoo, and bath salts themselves yesterday. Through the producing process, they understood the chemistry more, and realized the close relationship between chemistry and our lives. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry had a global YAC (Young Ambassadors for Chemistry) project three years ago. They held workshops worldwide and use the “train the trainer” model to popularize the chemistry concept. It was the second time to hold the YAC activity in Taiwan this year, and they chose Yilan County where resources were short. Students used simple chemical materials to produce some daily supplies in front of Yo-Ai Department Store yesterday afternoon. They produced the hair gel with gel polymer, water, food color, and perfume, for instance, or the shampoo with detergent solution, water, few salts, food color, and perfume.

This was a real success, after parents who wanted the guarantee from the school that no explosions (the public image of chemistry!) would harm their children and the manager of the store that first refused our presence but after a lot of discussions agreed and even ended with the presentation of the prizes to the students. Well done Yi-lan students and teachers!
Hong-Da and Shu-Hua agreed to act as the Taiwanese coordinators in the Yilan province.

April 2007
Text: Lida Schoen, Mei-Hung Chíu
Pictures: Lida Schoen